(A 1973 Tableau. Image Courtesy:  indianrdc.mod.gov.in)

 

 

“One great country, One great people” (OGC-OGP). This is not the latest call fished out from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s treasure trove of visionary ideas. This is a slogan of the 1960s. It was the “central theme” of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s tableau for the 1966 Republic Day Parade (RDP).

OGC-OGP’s implementation can help us resolve the raging, avoidable politics over rejection of tableaux of several States and Union Territories (UTs) - a practice whose origin dates back to 1953. 

Denial of permission to participate in RDP is a vestige of permit-quota-licence (PQL) raj. It has been whittled down in phases beginning 1991 in economy but kept intact in management of cooperative federalism.

PQL in tableaux arena conflicts with PM’s vision -Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas & Sabka Prayas (SS-SV-SV-SP).  Absence of dozen or more States and UTs in RDP in any given year pours cold water on Team India vibrancy. 

Let OGC-OGP be revived to turn RPD into a golden platform for showcasing cooperative federalism. Let 28 States and 8 union territories be made eternal part of RDP. It should reflect Unity in Diversity and not Unity in Discord. 

 (Image Courtesy: PIB)

 

“Every VIP must remember that he is a VIP because he has a Very Important Duty. Consequently, he must remember that he is given extraordinary security so that he may exert his utmost and contribute his fullest to the security and well-being of the ordinary citizens who are his masters in a democracy”, stated BJP’s veteran Mr. L.K. Advani, way back on 6th April 2000. 

He noted this, as Home Minister, in his keynote address at a seminar on ‘VIP Security – Emerging Challenges’ organised by Special Protection Group (SPG), a statutory force with a mandate to protect Prime Minister.  

Mr. Advani’s reminder has special relevance to PM Narendra Modi’s security breach. This happened during his recent visit to Punjab, triggering political storm. 

Mr. Advani’s wisdom deserves to be mulled over by PM and all Chief Ministers. They are the key propellers of cooperative federalism (CF).  When there is persisting deficit in relationship between PM and Opposition CMs, the risk of security lapse rises. 

The State Police has higher stake in avoiding gaps in safety chain if PM and the Opposition CM share stage at official events organized outside National capital. For this, the ball lies in Mr. Modi’s court. He has to change his political narrative against Opposition-ruled States. He has to unveil a code for conduct for politics and ego-free interface between PM and CMs.(https://bit.ly/3IfWsDg)

Growth-hungry India cannot afford to see recurring instances of CMs of Opposition-ruled States avoiding sharing dais with Mr. Modi. He likes to mix official events with political rallies in his visit to States. BJP supporters boo or heckle CMs during the official events. Mr. Modi acts as a silent spectator on such occasions. Specific instances on this discord, beginning August 2014, would be cited a bit later. The intention here is not to blame any dignitary but to pitch for discord-free Team India under Mr. Modi’s captaincy. 

Periodic reports of CMs complaining about worsening Centre-State relations are neither good for economic development nor for the national security. The way Mr. Modi promotes the concept of double-engine government (BJP at Centre & at State) implies that growth & governance can’t flourish if a State is ruled by BJP. 

(Image Courtesy: PIB)

 

The difference is clear. The BJP’s charismatic votes-seeker Narendra Modi recently spun this phrase in Hindi to market Yogi Government’s performance as compared to earlier UP regimes. Did he realize that this slogan would boomerang on him? 

Yes, Fark Saaf Hai between him and all previous prime ministers especially Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Rajiv Gandhi. Mr. Vajpayee faced three security breaches in a span of 11 days during January 2003 in Delhi.

At that time, he didn’t have a dig at Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Sheila Dikshit. And the BJP didn’t burst into unprecedented hysteria. NDA Government acted professionally: It took appropriate action against five personnel of Delhi Police and CRPF.

At that time, the mainstream media didn’t drum up conspiracy plot. Godimedia, however, now loves to play up names such as ISI, China, Khalistan, Toolkit plot and Congress High Command with hints from powers that be. It does not ask the Government/BJP to show concrete evidence to prove the allegations of their hand in the plots to either spoil Mr. Modi’s image or harm him.

Mind you, Khalistan’s link in assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in October 1984 was found bogus after rigorous probes. This is clear from Government’s action taken report on Justice Takkar Commission and Special Investigation Team’s reports laid in Parliament during late eighties. 

This narration should not be misconstrued as an attempt to belittle PM’s security that has a direct bearing on the national security. Moreover, any harm to PM can create social unrest including riots. PM’s security should, however, not be politicised, thereby derailing truth. 

Unfortunately, underlying issues in Mr. Modi’s security breach were ignored by all stakeholders. The web of unaddressed security issues, some lingering for two decades, thus require separate analysis.